Monday 10th January 2022

BASIC OPERATIONS ON DECIMALS

DIVIDING DECIMALS:

This can be done by multiplying the numerator and denominator by the same number or by long
division.

Example 4: Calculate the following without using a calculator

(a) 6 ÷ 0.0003 (b) 1.2 ÷ 0.006 (c) 0.08 ÷ 0.2
(d) 3.6 ÷ 0.0012 (e) 14.04 ÷ 6

Solution:

!
(a) 6 ÷ 0.0003 = . The denominator is 0.0003, this can be changed into a whole
"."""$
number by multiplying by 10,000. However, the numerator must also be multiplied by
10,000:
! ! %",""" !","""
= × = = 20,000
"."""$ "."""$ %",""" $

%.' %""" %'""

(b) 1.2 ÷ 0.006 = × = = 200
".""! %""" !

"."( %" ".(

(c) 0.08 ÷ 0.2 = × = = 0.4
".' %" '

$.! %",""" $!,"""

(d) 3.6 ÷ 0.0012 = × = = 3,000
".""%' %",""" %'

2.34
(e) 14.04 ÷ 6 = 6 14.04
– 12.00
2.04
– 1.80
0.24
–
0.24
0.00
BODMAS WITH DECIMALS:

BODMAS for numbers is the same for decimals. Mathematical operations must be done
in a specific order.

Example 5: Evaluate without the use of a calculator

(a) 4.3 – 2.4 ÷ 0.6 (b) 300 × 0.02 – 1.52

(c) (1.7 – 0.9) ÷ 2.4 (d) 4.3 (0.8 – 0.09) + 6.33

!.!( × &.!+
(e)
(!.')"

Solution:
$.% $%
(a) 4.3 – 2.4 ÷ 0.6 = 4.3 – 4 (first divide then subtract) = =4
!.( (

4.3 – 4 = 0.3

(b) 300 × 0.02 – 1.52 = 3 × 100 × 0.02 – 1.52 (300 is the same as 3 × 100)

3 × 100 × 0.02 – 1.52 = 3 × 2 – 1.52 (100 × 0.02 = 2)

3 × 2 – 1.52 = 6 – 1.52 (multiply first then subtract)

9
5 6.1 010
– 1. 5 2
4. 4 8

(c) (1.7 – 0.9) ÷ 2.4 = 0.8 ÷ 2.4 (simplify inside brackets first)

!.# # &
0.8 ÷ 2.4 = = =
$.% $% '

(d) 4.3 (0.8 – 0.09) + 6.33 = 4.3 (0.71) + 6.33 (subtract first inside the brackets)

4.3 (0.71) + 6.33 = 4.3 × 0.71 + 6.33 (between a number and brackets is
multiplication)
4.3 × 0.71 + 6.33 = 3.053 + 6.33

3.053 + 6.33 = 9.383

!.!( × &.!+ !.!( × &.!+ !.!('

(e) = = (simplify numerator and denominator)
(𝟎.𝟑)𝟐 𝟎.𝟑 × 𝟎.𝟑 !.!0

!.!(' (.'
= = 0.7 (divide after simplifying)
!.!0 0